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The Riigikogu is the parliament of Estonia. Its 101 members are elected at general elections for a term of four years. The Riigikogu passes laws and resolutions, exercises parliamentary supervision and ratifies international agreements.

The Riigikogu has 11 standing commitees and 4 select committees. Commitees of investigation and study committees are formed to investigate issues of public interest or problems of significant imprtance.

February 12

12.02.2003 / Sitting reviews

At Question Time ministers answered the questions of the members of the Riigikogu.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristiina Ojuland answered the question of Trivimi Velliste about the need to coordinate important statements of foreign policy with the Riigikogu,the question of Elmar Truu about the joint statement of the Vilnius group supporting the United States of America, the question of Mari-Ann Kelam about the visit to Moscow of Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Liina Tõnisson, the question of Andres Tarand about the eastern trend of the foreign policy and the question of Liia Hänni about the Estonian message in the field of foreign policy.

Minister Eldar Efendijev answered the question of Mart Nutt about the minorities and the question of Aimar Altosaar about the activities of the Narva Language Centre.

Minister of Justice Märt Rask answered the question of Sergei Ivanov about the legislative drafting during the last four years and the question of Jüri Adams about the court judgment concerning the methanol tragedy in Pärnu.

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts:

The Riigikogu passed with 60 votes in favour (1 vote against) the Code of Criminal Procedure (594 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Code stipulates the procedure for the pre-trial procedure and judicial proceedings of crime and the procedure for the enforcement of decisions made in criminal matters.

The Riigikogu passed with 57 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to Acts Related to the Penal Law Reform (1289 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act specifies the Acts related to the Penal Law Reform, proceeding from the matters cropped up in the practical work while applying the Acts.

The Bailiffs Act, Code of Enforcement Procedure and State Fees Act Amendment Act (1269 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 59 votes in favour. The Act regulates more specifically certain problems encountered in practice after the passage of the Bailiffs Act, thus making the rules of civil enforcement procedure clearer and more efficient. The most important change is the establishment of the Board of Bailiffs that without being a legal person, passes resolutions related to the development and management of the institution of bailiffs within the competence stipulated by the Bailiffs Act.

The Act on the Ratification of the Annual Financing Agreement 2001 of the Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Republic of Estonia between the Commission of the European Communities on behalf of the European Community and the Republic of Estonia, and on Amendments to the Act on the Ratification of the Multiannual Financing Agreement of the Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Republic of Estonia between the Commission of the European Communities on behalf of the European Community and the Republic of Estonia (1301 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 58 votes in favour. The Act ratifies the annual financing agreement of the SAPARD programme. The Act includes also the amendments to the Act on the ratification of the multiannual financing agreement.

The Act on the Ratification of the Cooperative Agreement on Pension Insurance between the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Russian Federation and the Protocol of Amendment (1250 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 55 votes in favour. The Act creates the legal basis for the implementation of the named Cooperative Agreement and the Protocol of Amendment in the Republic of Estonia.

The Riigikogu passed with 76 votes in favour the Restrictions on Acquisition of Immovables Act (1187 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act stipulates the restrictions on acquisition of immovables proceeding from public interest. Public interest in the meaning of the named Act is, first and foremost, the fostering of purposeful management of immovables, which categories consist of agricultural or forest lands.

The Riigikogu passed with 65 votes in favour (1 vote against) the Land Reform Act Amendment Act (1109 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act eliminates the conflicts of the Estonian legal acts with the European Union law. The main restrictions to the free movement of capital still in use were the restrictions on acquisition of real estate and land in Estonia by foreigners and legal persons.

The Riigikogu passed with 22 votes in favour the Aviation Act and Rescue Act Amendment Act (1262 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act specifies certain provisions arising from the toughened requirements of international organisations which we are members of or wish to join.

The Riigikogu passed with 43 votes in favour (1 vote against) the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases Act (658 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act regulates the organisation of the control of communicable diseases and the procedure for rendering health care services to infected persons and stipulates the obligations of the state and local governments, legal and natural persons in the prevention and control of communicable diseases.

The Riigikogu passed with 22 votes in favour the Chemicals Act Amendment Act (1271 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act brings the 1998 Act into conformity with the new requirements concerning chemical safety and amends the shortcomings that have emerged. The Act is of crucial importance in terms of the public health and environmental safety, regulating the safe use of chemicals. The implementation of the Chemicals Act Amendment Act involves additional expenses to the state in connection with the launching of the Intoxication Notification Service at the Chemicals Notification Centre.

The Riigikogu passed with 30 votes in favour the International Military Cooperation Act (1275 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act regulates the legal bases of the participation of the Republic of Estonia in international military cooperation.

The State Secrets Act and Security Authorities Act Amendment Act (1283 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 29 votes in favour. The Act gives the national legal basis for the legal regulation of the electronic information security as a phenomenon becoming more and more important in the modern information society in the sphere of protection of national security and state secrets, including the provisions delegating to the Government of the Republic and to the Minister of Defence the authority to enact relevant implementing provisions.

The Riigikogu passed with 26 votes in favour the Personal Data Protection Act (1196 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The purpose of the Act is the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of natural person in compliance with public interests while processing personal data.

The Act on the Ratification of the Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (1300 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 22 votes in favour.

The purpose of the Protocol on Water and Health is to protect human health, by improving the cooperation between the states in the field of water protection and sustainable use of water resources for ensuring the access to wholesome drinking water and sanitary measures to all members of the population.

The Imprisonment Act and Health Care Services Act Amendment Act (1244 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 24 votes in favour. The Act settles the matters related to the procedure for application and organisation of imprisonment and provisional custody regulated by the Imprisonment Act, which have emerged in the course of practical work.

The Riigikogu passed with 32 votes in favour (22 votes against) the Prosecutor’s Office Act Amendment Act (1274 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act brings the Prosecutor’s Act into conformity with the principles approved by the Public Service Bill for giving up the general career system and prescribes the enhancement of the rights and responsibility of the Attorney-General as head of the Prosecutor’s Office.

The Riigikogu passed with 22 votes in favour the Act on the Ratification of the Convention on Cybercrime (1176 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The purpose of the Convention is the effective fight against the more and more growing international cybercrime. The Convention harmonises the international legislation in the fields related to cybercrime and coordinates transnational cooperation.